In 1983, Dwayne 'Pearl' Washington (Brooklyn, NY) was the number one ranked high school basketball recruit in the country, the Most Valuable Player in the McDonald's High School All-American game, and a New York City playground hoops legend. In his senior year at Brooklyn Boys & Girls High School, he averaged 35 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists per game.
Pearl's decision to attend Syracuse University brought the school's basketball program (along with their Carrier Dome home court and the fledgling Big East Conference) unprecedented national media coverage and legitimacy. Washington played three seasons in Syracuse, garnering first-team All-Big East honors each year and second-team All-American nods in 1985 (AP) and 1986 (UPI).
Best known for electrifying crowds with his mastery of the crossover dribble and 'shake and bake' scoring moves, Washington was also the quintessential point guard, excelling in both the half-court and transition offense. He averaged nearly 7 assists over his career, and established an SU single-game record with 18 assists in a 82-81 road win at Alumni Hall against Chris Mullin and St. John's in 1984.
Washington's ball-handling skills made him a one-man full-court press breaker, and his penchant for late-game heroics (SU was 6-1 in games decided by 1 point during Pearl's tenure) cemented his legacy as one of college basketball's all-time greats. His last-second half court game-winning heave in the Dome against Boston College in 1984 stands as one of the great buzzer-beaters in NCAA hoops history.
In 1996, Pearl's uniform (#31) was retired by SU. Washington eventually returned to Syracuse University to complete his studies, and graduated in 1999. Pearl was named to the Syracuse University All Century Team in 2000; in 2004, he earned a spot on the Big East Conference's 25th Anniversary First Team.
Many thanks to www.orangehoops.org for biographical and statistical information.
Music: 'Ain't No Half-Steppin' by Big Daddy Kane (Brooklyn,NY) (1988)